Welcome to Westford School Board Directory

 Westford School District Strategic Plan

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CCSU Policies 		Westford is a small rural community located twelve miles from Essex Junction, Vermont. Westford School has one building for grades K-8. High School students are tuitioned to the school of their choosing. The majority attend Essex High School.  NEXT BOARD MEETING:  
Agenda: T.B.A.



School Board members are:
Martha P. Heath
Chair
 
Term: 3 years
expires: March 2007 		Allison Weinhagen
 Vice Chair

Term: 2 years
expires: March 2008		 Jennifer Townsend
Clerk
  
Term: 2 years
expires: March 2007		 Beth Lane
Member

Term: 3 years
expires: March 2009
Andre E. Roy
 Member
 
Term: 3 years
expires: March 2008

 







Westford School Board Strategic Plan
"Stepping Forward Together"



Capital Investments    | Fiscal Responsibility   | Human Resources    | Programs and Curriculm   | Communication    | Technology  | Completed    


Capital Investments
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Roof To replace roof on old section of building
  • Send out RFD
  • Approve bid
  • Complete work
Completed by 9/1/02         Roof Over G's 3 & 4
Safety Fencing To install safety fencing around the new water storage tanks.
  • Send out RFD
  • Approve Bid
  • Complete work
Completed by 9/1/02          
Land behind school To have a forester evaluate the woodlands behind school for both animal habitats and commercial harvesting
  • Assess land
  • Develop a land use plan
  • Approve activites needed to manage land
  To be completed by 6/1/04
(Brian)		        
Town "Right of Way" To work with the town to maintain a "right of way" to their property behind the school
  • Reveiw the quit claim deed presented by the town to the school board.
  • Sign deed if it protects the interests of both parties
  To be completed by 6/1/04
(Paul)		        
Parking Traffic Flow and Surfacing To create a safe traffic pattern and acceptable surfacing in parking lots.
  • Develop a plan
  • Budget for and complete work in 2007/08 unless alternative funding is found.
  10% No Idling     Plan to be completed by Oct. 2006 (Brian)  
Fiscal Responsibility
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Multi-year budgeting To develop a 3 year revolving budget plan
  • Develop parameters
  • Set long term guidance
  • Update each year during the budget cycle
10/07/02 (Brian) Ongoing-- ---------- ---------- ----->  
Budget Coordination To ensure that budget is responsive to the strategic plan, school action plans, new curriculums and technology plan
  • Review each plan and curriculum during the budget guidance process
  • Create budget with both long term and short term needs of the school district as guides
  Strategic Plan School Action Planning (All) Ongoing-- -------- ------->
Budget Management To create management tools both for internal and external reliability and efficiency and deliver reports to managers in a timely fashion
  • Improve relations with the town treasurer to receive timely information
  • Set up a reporting mechanism with the select board to promote accountability
  • Improve the internal report mechanism
Treasurer Improvement or Action (Steve) July 1/03 Begin search for new software to better support schools (Brian)

Oct. 04 Introduce financial report prepared exclusively for Board (Brian)		        
Financial & Accounting Management To acquire, implement, and maximize new software and systems to improve speed, access, and efficiencies of financial and accounting management
  • Improve efficiencies through automations and technology
  • Develop "real time" access to account information
  • Decentralize ordering and requisition process
  July 1/03 Begin search for new software to better support schools (Brian)

Oct. 04 Introduce financial report prepared exclusively for Board (Brian)		 July 1/04 Determine implementation for new software and begin system preparation (Brian) July 1, 2005 Implementation of GL Enterprise Jan. 1 Payroll Jan. 1 2006 Implementation of personnel model  
Human Resources
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Length of school To increase the number of teacher work days and student days in the school year
Unsuccessful at Negotiations
  • Negotiate additional work days in the next contract (to begin in 2003).
  • Decide on how best to use additional days (student days, teacher inservice, flex days, etc.)
1 Day Flexible use of time
176 Student Days		 1 Day Flexible use of time 1 Day Flexible use of time 1 Day Flexible use of time 1 Day Flexible use of time  
Teacher Training Days To reduce the number of teacher training days during student days
  • Plan teacher staff development outside of student days
12 Inservice Days


Continue to lobby to plan state teacher training days outside of student days.
Programs and Curriculum
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Kindergarten To decide on the best delivery model for kindergarten services
  • Complete the kindergarten study now in progress.
Recommendations made to board by Nov. meeting Evaluation of K Model Evaluation of K Model      
Early Childhood To provide early childhood options to Westford residents
  • To research early childhood options for Westford residents
Recommendation made to board by Nov. meeting Continue to study Recommend as a CCSU goal      
Student Led Conferences

Completed 		To have student led conference in school spring conferences
  • K, 5 & 6 are completed
  • Expand time frames beyond school day for Fall Conferences
Grade 1/2
Grade 7/8		 Grade 3/4
Completed 		Goal of 100% participation in PreK-4 fall conferences Goal of 100% participation in 5-8 fall conferences    
Extra Curricular Activities To continue to offer extra-curricular activities at the present level
  • Study effect of declining enrollement on extra-curricular activities
Report to board by June 2003 Define a process to keep track of student involvement Report on student involvement each year      
Technology To reexamine the realationship with the CCSU programs   Report to the board by December 2002 on technology needs Budget discussion on connection to CCSU Implement      
 
Class Size Targets
Approved: 12/02/2002
Grade Minimum Optimum Maximum
K 14 16 18
1/2 15 17 18
3/4 16 18 20
5/6 18 20 22
7/8
(Core Courses)		 18 22
(on average)		 24
 
Communication
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Board to Community and School To improve communication from board to constituents
  • Put monthly board article in school newsletter
  • Put same article in the Essex Reporter
  • Meet with school faculty twice during year to discuss board initiatives
On going



On going



On going		   ------->



  ------->		        
School to Greater Community To disseminate school news to the Westford Town Newsletter
  • Submit school article to newsletter on a monthly basis
On going >   ------>        
Celebrate Success To recognize, honor and celebrate student's academic and extra curricular successes
  • Presentation at board meetings (at least 2 this year)
  • Publicizing whenever possible
On going   ------->        
Webpage To more intentional about use of webpage
  • Put Strategic Plan on webpage
  Completed Updated      
Technology
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Technology To reexamine the relationship with the CCSU programs   Report to the board by December 2002 on technology needs Budget discussion on connection to CCSU

T-1 Line		 Purchased CCSU services at $10,000

New Server Installed		 Consider adding more CCSU services    
Completed
Issue
Goal
Activities
 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Water Storage Tanks To remove old internal water storage tanks
  • Hire contractor
  • Remove tanks
Removed          
Class Size To identify maximum class size each grade level
  • Research and recommend class size at each grade level
  • Approve maximum class size
12/02 Board recommended approval          
Fine Arts To research the need for a kiln at the school
Continue support for existing program
  • Research cost of kiln
  • Assess needs during budget cycle
Board accepted gift of kiln Nov. 2002          
Food Service Equipment To purchase new "walk in cooler" for kitchen and dishwasher
  • Send out RFD
  • Approve bid
  • Install
  • Write Grant
Completed Walk in cooler 02-03   Completed Dishwasher by 2004-2005      
Water Pressure Tanks To relocate water pressure tanks
Replace hot water tank
  • Hire contractor
  • Relocate tanks
Completed by 9/1/02          
Everyday Math To ifully implement the Everyday Math program in Westford
  • Continue the teacher training cycle
  • Purchase materials as needed
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the program
Fully implemented by June 2003

Evaluate programs through student assessments		 Evaluate program